Report on the EU contribution to promoting
decent work throughout the world

Why is there a report now?

The report aims to track the progress of the EU’s contribution to
promote decent work throughout the world and was requested as part of the
Commission's 2006 Communication on this issue. Decent work – meaning more
and better jobs with social protection, social dialogue, and equal opportunities
– is crucial for developing countries, emerging economies and
industrialised countries beyond the EU's borders to harness the benefits of
globalisation and to manage change.

What is the decent work agenda about?

The decent work agenda is a key element in the international dimension of the
EU's social agenda. It covers employment, rights at work, social protection,
social dialogue and the gender dimension. Decent work for all is a universal
concept, strongly promoted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and is
also one of the UN's Millennium Development Goals.

Promoting decent work throughout the world for all contributes to fair
globalisation, combining economic performance with social justice.

What are the main problems?

In areas with a shortage of decent work, the standard of living and quality
of life of men and women are markedly lower. For example:

Half of the world's population has no social protection and 80% of workers
do not have adequate social protection.

According to the ILO employment report 2008, despite world growth of more
than 5%, the average global unemployment rate has not improved. In particular,
some countries with very high growth rates are not creating jobs.

Worldwide, one in two people have insecure jobs according to ILO figures. In
developing countries, this often means working in the informal economy with low
pay, dangerous working conditions and little or no social protection. Women and
young people are particularly affected.

The ILO has estimated that some 165 million children between the ages of 5
and 14 are currently involved in child labour.

What has the
Commission done over the last two years?

Since the 2006 Communication, the Commission has been making efforts to
mobilise all EU institutions as well as other actors like the business
community, social partners and civil society to promote decent work, for example
through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and involvement in external
policies.

It is also working to support commitments at international level, developing
bilateral relations and exchange on these issues with partner countries and
regions, as well as by integrating decent work objectives into the EU’s
trade and development policies.

How will the Commission integrate decent work in external
policies?

In bilateral relations, decent work is the subject of dedicated dialogues
with neighbourhood countries, emerging economies such as China, India, Mexico,
South Africa, Brazil and Chile and in regional fora with Asia (ASEM), Latin
America and Africa.

Decent work objectives are integrated into the EU's development policy and
external assistance.

Sustainability is a central theme in EU trade policy, and the interaction
between trade and decent work, particularly in the context of the Generalised
System of Preferences (GSP) and GSP+, the ongoing negotiations for Free Trade
Agreements, aid for trade, and the capacity building and dialogue with
interested countries.

What about international commitments?

Coordinated EU action helps shape the international agenda on decent work and
the broader issue of fair globalisation. In the renewed Social Agenda presented
today, the Commission reaffirms its commitment to promoting decent work at a
global level by working with international bodies like the ILO.

The Commission is also calling on all Member States to set an example by
ratifying and implementing the relevant up-to-date ILO Conventions on decent
work. This ratification process is particularly important for the EU’s
credibility in promoting decent work commitments on the global scene.

IP/08/1070:
Commission proposes Renewed Social Agenda to empower and help people in
21st century Europe